The African Union Commission (AUC) has reiterated its strong commitment to the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, religious freedom, and the rule of law, as stated in the African Union Constitutive Act and related documents, during a statement made on Saturday.
This was contained in a statement shared on AUC’s official website on Saturday following President Trump’s comments regarding the killings of innocent Christians in Nigeria, which triggered widespread reactions about two weeks ago.
The commission expressed concern over recent allegations from the United States claiming that the Nigerian government is complicit in the targeted killings of Christians and has threatened military action.
The AUC highlights that Nigeria is a valued and long-standing member state of the African Union, playing a vital role in regional stability, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping efforts, and continental integration.
The AUC said it fully respects Nigeria’s sovereign right to manage its internal affairs, including security, religious freedom, and human rights, in accordance with its constitution and international obligations.
Moreover, the commission added that Nigeria’s consistent affirmation that its constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief, and that the government opposes all forms of religious persecution should be respected.
The AUC called for regional and international cooperation to assist Nigeria and other African nations in enhancing their capacity to respond to insecurity, protect all citizens, uphold human rights, and bring those responsible for violence to justice.
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“The AUC is ready to provide support through its peace and security framework, capacity-building programs, and strategic partnerships.
“Additionally, the AUC rejects any narrative that weaponizes religion or oversimplifies security challenges. Conflating all violence with a single religious-target narrative may hinder effective solutions and destabilize communities,” it said.
The AUC urged external partners, including the United States, to engage Nigeria through diplomatic dialogue, intelligence-sharing, and capacity-building partnerships, while respecting Nigerian sovereignty rather than resorting to unilateral military threats, which could undermine continental peace, regional stability, and AU norms for peaceful conflict management.
The African Union Commission says it remains committed to supporting member states in promoting peace, security, human rights, and development, while upholding sovereignty and non-interference.
